Hutton-le-Hole C, in their second season in the Ryedale Table Tennis League, won their first match when beating The Drifters 7-3 thanks to fine unbeaten performances by Jeff Andrews and Jim Bailey.
Also in division three, Ryedale G dropped a point against Amotherby F, but are two points clear at the top ahead of Hutton-le-Hole B who have a match in hand.
In division two, Scarborians and Helmsley B, both in the lower reaches of the table, fou
ght out a 5-5 draw.
David Chugg was on top form for Helmsley, beating Tim Penrose and Steve Miller in four ends, and Henry Peak in three.
Miller struggled against Phil Trevelyan and Howard Mayne and was lucky to win 11-8 in both deciders.
Penrose had a slightly easier time winning both his sets in straight games. Miller and Penrose squared the match with a hard fought doubles victory over Chugg and Mayne.
Ryedale C moved within five points of Coneysthorpe at the top with a 9-1 win over Amotherby D as Titch Temple and his son Stephen did not drop a game in their singles.
In division one, the top two teams met and although there is a big gap in points the match proved to be a titanic encounter as leaders Amotherby A just edged out Ryedale A 6-4.
Ryedale got off to a great start going 2-0 up and Pat Swindell's match with John Flintoft set the trend.
Flintoft was 10-6 up in the second game only to lose it 14-12. Both players dug in and in the fifth set Swindell who led 10-4 eventually went down 17-15.
Flintoft and Ed Wardman fought hard to beat Tom Needham each in the fifth game.
Paul Young was on top form to win all three for Amotherby.
Third-placed Swinton visited Ryedale B and came away with an 8-2 victory that leaves the Ryedale club in serious danger of ending up in the play-offs to determine relegation.
Ryedale B never seriously troubled the expertise of Steve Oldfield, nor the effervescent Paul Cuthbertson, whose improvement this season has been increasingly evident.
The ageless Ray Mitchell chipped in with one set, to complete an almost perfect evening for Swinton.
The league's Closed Tournament will take place on March 7 at the new Norton College sports hall.
The event is being organised by Paul Stansfield and will start at 9am.
The events will consist of: Division one, two, three singles KO; Doubles (choose your own partner); Selected Doubles (partners chosen by organiser); Handicap singles; Hard bat (bats supplied).
Results
Division one: Ryedale A 4 Amotherby A 6; Ryedale B 2 Swinton 8; Boro v Whitby - late result; Amotherby B 2 Helmsley A 8.
Division two: Amotherby C 6 Ryedale D 4; Ryedale C 9 Amotherby D1; FERA A v Coneysthorpe, Ryedale E v Ryedale F - late results; Scarborians 5 Helmsley B 5.
Division three: FERA B v Hutton B - late result; Amotherby E 7 Westow 3; Hutton C 7 Drifters 3; Laundry v Hutton A - postponed; Ryedale G 7 Amotherby F 3.
